If Ezekiel had expected to see a revolutionary change in his congregation as a result of hearing about his vision from the LORD (chapters 8-11), the air is quickly let out of his balloon at the start of chapter 12: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house.” Like those who remain in Jerusalem, his fellow exiles are a spiritually dull and defiant group (v 1-2). To overcome their apathy, Ezekiel is asked to engage in another symbolic role play. God tells him to gather his belongings as though he were about to make a journey—not a vacation for pleasure, but a 700-mile march into exile. Whatever he brings will have to be carried on his shoulders. So Ezekiel packs his meager belongings in full view of the exiles. In the evening, he digs through a wall of his house and leaves town with his face covered (v 3-7). The following day Ezekiel returns to explain the meaning of this visual sermon. His actions should not have been difficult to understand, since they depicted an event which these exiles had already experienced. Still they ask him, “What are you doing?” The prophet makes it plain. The ritual was all about Prince Zedekiah and the people in Jerusalem who had survived Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest. They too will be taken into captivity. Though Zedekiah will disguise himself and attempt to escape at night, the Babylonians will capture him and carry him away. He’ll never again see the land of Israel, for he will be blinded, imprisoned, and executed in Babylon (v 8-13). The LORD is the One who will bring Zedekiah to a foreign land, scattering his forces and dispersing his followers among the nations. These disgraced survivors will know it was the LORD’s doing, not necessarily repenting for their actions, but unavoidably bearing witness of the LORD’s just wrath (v 14-16). In a second sign-act, Ezekiel is told to sit down for a meal. He’s already been restricted to starvation rations (4:9-17), but now as he eats and drinks, he must shudder in fear and tremble with anxiety. The people of Jerusalem have filled the land with violence; now the violence will return on their own heads. The land of Judah and all who remain in it are doomed (v 17-20). Unfortunately, Ezekiel’s warnings go unheeded by his cynical audience. Their response was to quote a popular proverb to the effect that prophetic visions are nothing more than empty words. Meanwhile, others quoted another proverb, assuming Ezekiel’s words would only come to pass in some future generation. How are similar responses evident in our own day? (v 21-28). For further meditation: